Examiner.com

photo by Erin Wiltgen
Matt Koh, of LOS, at Queen City 2010

LOS came into being in 2005, a split from the already existing Triangle area open club ultimate Frisbee team, Ring of Fire.

The team has made it to regionals every year of its existence, but has yet to advance to club nationals.

LOS secured its highest regional placement in 2008, but last year’s was the best team the club has fielded despite its fourth-place regionals finish, according to LOS captain Mike Denardis.

“We’ve generally gotten better every year we’ve played in the series,” he said.

In 2010, the team will hold a squad of 27 athletes, with a core of 13-14 returning guys.

“We’ll have about 13 spots to fill this year,” Denardis said. “Which is a little high, but we are really pleased with what we’ve seen thus far.”

LOS will compete in three tournaments before the series: Queen City Tune-up, which was July 10 and 11, Furniture City Shootout on July 31 and Aug. 1, and Chesapeake Open on Aug. 28 and 29. For Triangle area teams, the series begins with sectionals on Sept. 11.

photo by Erin Wiltgen
George Guthrie, of LOS, at Queen City 2010

Denardis said that nationals remains an implicit goal for the team, but the overall effort focuses on something more than that.

“We try to become the best team we possibly can from tryouts to regionals,” Denardis said. “A major team goal this year is to win the last game on Sunday, regardless of if we are in the finals or not.”

Improving practice intensity ranks high on the list of things needed to achieve said goals.

“We have tough practices, and when we aren’t focused and ready to go as a unit, it hurts our growth potential,” Denardis said.

But the beauty of LOS as a club centers not only about what players do on the field but also what they do off of it, something that sets them apart from other club teams, Denardis said.

“We try to work harder than most on the field, but we also try to foster a supportive atmosphere where people want to hang out off the field after a grueling practice,” he said, referencing a day spent watching the World Cup and playing FIFA after a June tryout. “I think this model has kept several people on the team even thought hey no longer live in the area.”